This year's Phocuswright Conference explores a fundamental
question to the power dynamic in the travel industry: Do companies whose worth
is measured in billions actually leverage their power in ways that smaller
companies can only dream about?
While bigger can be better in some scenarios, it's not a
hard-and-fast rule that size and scale make corporate life easier, explains Phocuswright
senior vice president of research and business operations Lorraine Sileo.
Expectations rise with revenue, and complications can multiply at a far faster
rate than earnings.
It's the Power Paradox, the theme of this year's event.
"Being small often means you're more much nimble than
your big, complicated competitor, but these days, neither the large nor the
small can feel secure about their future," Sileo said.
Nowhere does the Power Paradox play out in full public view
more than at the intersection of technology and travel. Mega OTAs like Booking.com
and Expedia and media giant TripAdvisor demonstrate their might -- and
potential weaknesses -- for all to see.
To gain insight into how the leaders of these companies view
the corporate and competitive landscape in 2018, their CEOs -- as well as
C-suite executives from China's Ctrip and India's MakeMyTrip -- will gather to
discuss the Power Paradox in Los Angeles at the Phocuswright Conference, Nov.
13-15. They will be joined by executives from metasearch engine Kayak and their
frenemies in the hospitality sector, including Airbnb, Hilton and Accor.
The big companies' challengers (and potential acquisition
targets) -- the nimble, small entrepreneurs whose innovations keep travel
technology vibrant -- will have their say as well, as they compete for
attention, validation and investment.
Investors, too, will chime in, providing key insights as
they share what they're looking for when they're going big or small -- and why.
Additional speakers are expected to be confirmed in the
coming weeks. To register, click here.